Discusses issues involved in the identification of schools with the lowest student performance and uses test data for New York City elementary schools to demonstrate the extent to which choices about how to aggregate individual test results can affect the identification of low-performing schools. Introduces fuzzy logic as a tool for identifying…

This article is intended to give a critical evaluation of the "learning test methodology," with special regard to diagnosis and optimization of learning processes. The learning test concept is based on the "pretest--educational training intervention--posttest" approach. (PN)

Two distinct multiple regression models used in evaluation methods of the Dallas (Texas) public schools are discussed along with the issues and problems related to their application to the practical problem of identifying effective schools. Results from application of these models, one implemented in 1984 and one in 1992, are discussed. (SLD)